A free shooting range about 10 miles west of Maricopa is open again after fire restrictions led to a temporary closure, according to InMaricopa.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Box Canyon Recreational Shooting Site reopened on July 22 after the restriction was lifted, said Marco Cinquini with the BLM’s Phoenix District Office. The range is on Hidden Valley Road, more than a mile south of Farrell Road, and is open from 7 a.m. until sunset. It is closed on Wednesdays for maintenance.
Box Canyon offers 50-, 100-, 200- and 300-yard lanes with fixed steel targets for pistol and rifle shooters, along with a sporting clay and skeet area. Local shooter Alex Hurst, a Rancho El Dorado resident, said he uses the range to practice for hunting and appreciates having it nearby.
August is also National Shooting Sports Month, a nationwide campaign focused on firearm safety and recreational shooting. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, this year marks the event’s 10th anniversary.
Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said the month is intended for everyone from first-time shooters to experienced marksmen. InMaricopa reported that Maricopa residents also have two other shooting options less than an hour away in Casa Grande and Tempe.
